Earth & Environmental Science Journalism
Course of Study
Legacy Site
This information is provided to document the course of study followed by graduates of Columbia’s dual masters degree program in Earth & Environmental Science Journalism, which operated from 1996 through 2011.
The Earth and Environmental Science Journalism program comprises two semesters of coursework in science, a science research project, and two semesters of coursework in journalism. The science and journalism components of the program are linked through a "Case Studies in Earth and Environmental Science Journalism" Seminar, and through the preparation of a master's project on an earth-related issue. Graduates receive an M.A. from the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences), and an M.S. from the Graduate School of Journalism.
Year 1
A minimum of 20 credits of earth and environmental sciences. Course offerings vary from year to year. "Case Studies in Earth and Environmental Science Journalism" is required of all first year students in the E&ESJ degree program. In addition, first year students take Environmental Reporting at the Journalism School during the fall. Earth Science Colloquium is required of all first year graduate students in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences.
- Go to Learning Objectives for "Case Studies in E&ESJ".
- Go to Learning Objectives for First Year Coursework.
First Semester (fall)
- EESC G6001: Earth science colloquium (1 pt).
- EESC G6005: Case studies in earth & environmental science journalism (3 pts).
- J6010x: Specialized Reporting/Writing Electives (RWII). "Environmental Reporting " or "Science Narratives" (3 pts).
- 3 science courses.
Second Semester (spring):
- EESC G6001: Earth science colloquium (1pt).
- EESC G6005: Case studies in Earth & Environmental Science journalism (3 pts).
- EESC G6003: Master's Research (4pts).
- 2 science courses.
Summer
During the summer between the first and second years of study the student will complete a scientific research project under the guidance of a scientist from the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory , the Center for Environmental Research and Conservation, the Goddard Institute for Space Studies, or the American Museum of Natural History. Students must prepare a ten-page master's paper based on their research project. Students present their projects orally to a 3-person advisory committee in September of their third semester.
Go to Previous E&ESJ Research Projects.
Go to Learning Objectives for Research Project.
Year 2
Thirty credits of graduate work in journalism, with a concentration in science environment writing.
- Go to Learning Objectives for Second Year Coursework.
Third Semester (fall):
(Note that fall semester coursework for the full time M.S. program at the Journalism School begins the first week of August.)
- J6001x: Reporting & Writing (RWI) (6 credits).
- J6102x: Skills of the Journalist (1 credit per unit).
- J6040x: Masters' Project (3 credits).
- J6075x: Critical issues in journalism (2 credits).
- J6037x: Journalism, the law and society (2 credits).
Fourth Semester (spring):
- J 6002y: Advanced Reporting and Writing Seminar: Science Reporting and Writing (6 credits)
- J6011y: any Media Workshop (6 credits)
- J6041y: Master's Project (2 credits)
- Elective: Journalism Elective, or a science course that wasn't offered in students first year (3 credits)